"The inclusion of Batur caldera as part of GGN will bring a positive impact on tourist arrivals in Indonesia, especially Bali in the coming years," Achyaruddin said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has declared the caldera area of Mt Batur located in Kintamani district, Bali, as part of Global Geopark Network (GGN), a ministry official said here Thursday.

The Director of Special Interest, Conventions, Incentives and Events Tourism Development of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Achyaruddin, said the declaration was made at the 11th European Geopark Conference held in Auroca Geopark, Portugal on 20 September 2012 .

"The inclusion of Batur caldera as part of GGN will bring a positive impact on tourist arrivals in Indonesia, especially Bali in the coming years," he said.

The decision to include Mount Batur`s caldera as part of GGN followed a long struggle in the past 4 years.

"Last year a team of experts from UNESCO in person observed the Batur`s caldera and the Karst region located in Pacitan, East Java that we proposed, but only Batur had been declared as part of GGN," Achyaruddin explained.

The geopark title is an award from UNESCO for the geological park managers who are able to carry out the preservation of the geological site as well as promote it as a tourist attraction.

Achyaruddin hoped increasing tourism activities in the region would improve the people`s welfare through the people`s involvement in the activities and would also empower the community there. In addition it is also hoped the park would also provide education for tourists visiting it.

Indonesia is now also proposing other geoparks for recognition by the UNESCO.

The caldera of Mount Batur is one of the geoparks proposed by the Indonesia government to UNESCO in addition to five other geoparks namely Lake Toba (North Sumatra), Merangin (Jambi), Mount Rinjani (West Nusa Tenggara), Raja Ampat (West Papua), and Sewu Karst regions (Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java).

"The geoparks included in GGN will automatically be promoted to the whole world," he said.

Meanwhile the Kintamani regent, I Made Gianyar said Mount Batur`s caldera that has been designated as a global geopark is currently being developed through Destination Management Organization (DMO) program participated by all stakeholders including the community.

Batur caldera is administratively located in 15 villages in the Kintamani disrict.

"Hopefully through the DMO the Batur Caldera tourist area will grow sustainably and be maintained to benefit the local people through tourism activities," he said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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